What is it about January that makes people want to split up? Apparently January 7th is the biggest day of the year for couples applying for a divorce. The Ministry of Justice says it gets a surge in couples instructing solicitors right now and that ‘divorce fever’ continues until March.

Maybe it’s the strain of the Christmas and New Year break that gets too much for couples. It can be a tough ‘celebration’ let’s be honest. Sometimes, though, I think it’s just that ‘New Year, New Life’ thing and the belief that ‘the grass is greener’ elsewhere. Actually, that idea that the grass is greener seems to be at almost plague-like proportions now across our culture. We’re constantly chasing that happiness that is just out of reach – not just in relationships but in all facets of our lives.

Although the divorce rate is high, about 40% of marriages now end in divorce, the split-up rate is far higher for cohabitees. It’s hard to get definite figures on it, of course, but it’s estimated that at least 70% of cohabiting couples split up at some point.

It’s all pretty miserable but what makes it worse is that the average cost of divorce now is around £18,000 – interestingly, about the same price as the average wedding (something ironic going on there). And that’s before you’ve factored in the ongoing costs of funding two households, extra childcare in some cases and then, often, a new family when one or both finds someone else. Separation can be less expensive – at least for one partner – because, if you weren’t married, there’s no law to say that the big earner has to give anything to the former partner. They just have to pay a bit for any children they’ve had…if they don’t evade the CSA that is.

Given that everything else in life seems to have got massively more expensive over the last few months, I’d suggest taking a big deep breath and thinking again about whether you really can’t bear that complete b*****d any more. Might there be life in the old relationship yet – particularly if you have children? It’s not always right to try again. Some couples should never even have held hands, let alone got married, so the sooner they go their separate ways the better, even if they have children, I think. But generally, in our throw-away society, we give up on relationships far too early and then wonder why we’re not happy with the next one either.

Of course, if you’re a newly-separated parent you are probably already dealing with the money worries that it brings. Our article Mum’s the Work can help (for dads too) if you’re stuck at home but desperately needing some extra cash. Our articles for couples and families in this section also have ideas for keeping costs down and getting the most from benefits etc. Sign up for our newsletter too so that you can get new money-saving and money-making ideas each week for free. You’re not alone – we’re here to help!